Awkward! Marvel’s C.B. Cebulski Asked About Japanese Influence on Western Comics at NYCC Panel

Things got a little awkward at the Marvel Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con Saturday when a panel including Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski was asked about the influence of Japanese manga on Western comics. Cebulski, of course, is famous for masquerading as fictional Japanese creator Akira Yoshida to write books, skirting Marvel policies forbidding editors from doing so, prior to his elevation to the job of top editor at the company. Despite being one of the foremost experts on said influence, Cebulski curiously didn’t bring up his time as Yoshida.

After some creators on the panel discussed their fandom for My Hero Academia, according to Bleeding Cool’s Madeline Ricchiuto, who was on the scene, Cebulski said that “Marvel has a history of doing” original graphic novels but because of cost haven’t done many lately, but “we have the third Jim Starlin novel in the works.” Of course, that will be Starlin’s last, as the creator said he won’t work for Marvel anymore due to how the company treated him.

At the Marvel Fanfare panel earlier in the day, Cebulski rattled off a list of jobs he’d held in the comic book industry. Comic book writer was not listed among them, according to Bleeding Cool reporter Hugh Sheridan.

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